Kinetograph movement



I March 24, 1925.

L. BROWN 'KINETOGRAPH"MOVEMENT FiledDec. 9, '1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 jive/i51 jlo 3222x071,

March 24, -1 925.

1.. BROWN KINETOGRAPH MOVEMENT Filed 1m. 9, 1921 4 Shets-Sheet 5 March 24, 1925. 1,531,068

v BROWN KINETOGRAPH MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1921'" 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 in anzey f atented Mar. 24, 1925.

ITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

LLOYD BROWN, or SHERMAN, oemroenm; ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 0. B. HUR'IT, w. F. PETERSON, GEORGE BAYNE STEPHENS AND CATHERINE BAYNE STEPHENS, ALL 0]! -LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND G. A. STEPHENS, OF MOLINE,

ILLINOIS, TRUSTEES.

xmniroenarn MOVEMENT.

Application filed December 9, 1921. Serial No. 521,272.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LLOYD BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sherman, in the county of Los-Angele's and State of California," have inventednew and useful Improvements in Kinetogra-ph Moves 'ments, of which the following is a full, clear,

and accurate disclosure.

The present invention relates to an intermittent film actuating mechanism, appli-- cable alike to either cameras or projectors, or, infact, any type of cinematographic mechanism wherein the'film is to be actuated intermittently; the foremost object being to accomplish a quick and positive film movement with "a comparatively long dwell. ;Also, a film movement that is even and smooth; eliminating disagreeable flickering and avoiding "jumping of the film. The mechanism 'is simple,,and particularly it is durable, enabling it to be constructed to accomplish its work in an efficient manner and "with little likelihood of its getting out of -order.;

While the invention willloev hereinafter described in detail in connection with a kinetograph, it is nevertheless to be understood that such description isdnade'mefly for the purpose of disclosing its principles of construction and operation, and. is not to be construed as a limitation to such use.

The preferred specific form of the device will be described in the following, specific-- cation, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereofin which through a kinetograph case, showing. my improved actuating mechanism in elevation, the view being taken as indicated by the line 11 of Fig. 3; .Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side of the case, being taken as indicatedby the line 22 of Fig. 3 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the case as indicated by the lines 83 of Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4, 5, 6. and ,7. are enlarged longitudinal vertical sec- "tional views arranged in diagrammatic form,

showing the several relative movements of the film actuating" mechanism throughout film actuating mechanism is mounted; the, space 14 between this partition and the front door 11 being hereinafter referred to as the exposure chamber, and the space 15 between this partition and the rear door 12 referred to as the film chamber. 3

Before. proceeding to a detailed description of the intermittent film actuating mechanism, I will first describe a suitable mechanism for feeding the film through the film chamber, which mechanism incidentally actuates the intermittentmovement. This mechanism is of a type in common use and consequently forms no part of my invention except as an initial actuatmg means. It may consist of a mam drive spur gear 16, rigidly mountedupon a horizontally 'disposed transverse stub shaft 17, which in turn is revolubly journaled in a suitable bearing 18, mounted on the partition 13 adjacentone of the side walls of thecase 10. The outer end of the shaft 17 extends through an aperture. 19 in this side of the case, and is suitably arranged for the reception of the usual V. V. a11d:cr ank(n0t shown) for manually actu- Fig. 1 is a transverse .vert1cals'e'ct1T""' I A bevel gear 20 is likewise rigidly mounted upon the stub shaft 17, or preferably formed integral with the spur gear 16, and meshes'with a similar gear 21 keyed adjacent the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 22 (see Fig. 3). The shaft 22 is revolubly journaled at its upper end in a suitable bearing 23, mounted upon the partition 13, and at its lower end in a similar bearing, formed in a bearing block 24:, likewise joined to the partition 13.

A spur gear 25, also keyed upon the shaft 2 2, meshes with a similar gear 26 keved u on a vertically disposed shaft 27, the latter extending parallel to the shaft .22. The shaft 27 is revolubly journaled at its upper end in one arm of a bearing block 28, and at its lower end in an arm of a bearing bl0ck'24, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

A bevel gear 29, keyed to the upper end of the shaft 27 meshes with a similar gear'30,

keyed upon the adjacent. end of a horizontally disposed' shaft 31, for driving a film feed sprocket 32 rigidly mounted upon the last mentioned shaft. 'The shaft 31 is revolubly journaled in suitable bearing blocks '33 which in turn are rigidly secured to the partition 13. A bevel gear 35, keyed to the lower end of the shaft 27, meshes with a similar gear 36 keyed to the adjacent end of a horizontally disposedshaft 37, on

not shown) designed to be mounted on the" bottom of the case. In passing between the feed sprockets 32.and. 38 the film F passes behind a suitable aperture gate, generally designated by the numeral 40, where the successive exposures are made upon the film through an exposure aperture 41 in the door 11, a suitable lens organization 42, and an exposure aperture 43, in the partition 13,-

which registers with a complimentary aperture 44 in the film raceway 46, when the lens organization is properly uncovered by the shutter 45. r

The usual'loops 46 and 47 a are left in the fihn F, between the upper and lower sprockets 32 and 38, and the film gate 40, as is usual in practice, topermit the intermittent actuation of the film past the exposure aperture 43. As will be hereinafter described the film F is-intermittently actuated'pastthe exposure apertures 43 and 44, to permit the successive impression of the image upon the film by the rotation of the shutter 45, by

my improved film actuating mechanism.

The aperture gate 40 herein illustrated consists of a raceway 46 and a gate 47, both of which are hingedly mounted on the partition 13, as at 48; the film F passing between this raoeway 46 and the gate 47 so that it may be carried back away from the aperture 43 to permit proper focusing of the lens when desired. A. suitable catch means 49 may be provided for locking the gate 47 p to the'faceway 46, and for locking both of to. the partition 13 during operation of volubly journaled at each end in suitable bearing blocks 53mounted upon the partition 13; .and intermediate these ends in bearings 55 and 56.0f bearing blocks 57 and 58, respectively.

A plate 59 slidably mounted between verv tically disposed guide rails 60 upon the partition 13 is given a vertical reciprocating rectilinear movement by means of a triangular cam 61, on theshaft 52, rotatably engaging a pair of opposed parallel cam bars i or followers 62, rigidly mounted upon the plates 59. 'It is preferable that the cam faces of the cam 61 beat all times in contact with the contiguous faces of the parallel cam bars 62 so that its rotation will thusimpart the vertical reciprocatory movement above referred to without jar and unevenness.

The film F is intermittently actuated in its course through'the camera by this'vertical reciprocatory movement of the plate 59, and through the medium of pins or claws 63 (see Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive) adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the perforations 64 of the film at suitable intervals and in synchro-nism with the rota-- tion of cam 61; the filmbeing engaged bythese claws during the downward movement of the plate 59 and released during its up-. ward movement, and thus intermittently moved downwardly between the raceway and aperture gate successively exposing contiguous portionsthereof. The claws 63. or the end portions adapted to engage the per-\ forations 64, of the film F, are preferably bearings are in turn rigidly mounted upon the plate 59, in pro-per alignment with the perforations 64 on either side of the film. The sleeve bearings 66 each have annular flanges 67 surrounding them ad'acent one I end 68, this end 68 extending t rough an aperture 69 in the plate 59, so the flange 67 will abut against its outer face, thus 'forming a rigid connection, and also a support for the inner ends of the pin 65, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive. The inner 126 ends 68 of the sleeve bearings 66 extend into vertically disposed slots 70 in the partition 13, these slots being elongated to permit the vertical reciprocatory movement of the late 59 during operation; the raceway 46 an the claws 63 with the perforations of the film,

and to permit the verticalmovement of both. The claws ,63 carried by the pins (55 are moved into and out of engagement with the film F (during vertical movement of the plate 59 by the cam 61 engaging the followers 62 thereon) by means of a pair of vertically disposed arms T3, pivoted at their lower ends upon a suitable bracket 74, and.

having their upper ends so formed as to be slidably engaged by suitable bearings 76 on the outer ends of the pins 65. The bearings 76 are preferably formed integral with the pins 65, forming an enlarged head to abut against the outer end of the sleeve bearing 66, to limit the inward movement of the claws, these bearings having vertically disposed apertures 77 extending therethrough to receive the ends 75 of the levers 73, which arepreferably flattened for the purpose. The apertures 77 are madeslight-.

ly' larger than the width of the upper ends 75 of the levers 73, to allow for the angularity of the levers during their oscillatory movement about their pivot-s.

The levers 7 3 as above stated, are pivotally mounted at their lower ends upon a bracket 74 secured to the partition 13, as by means.

of suitable screws .78, an outwardly extending arm 7 9 of this bracket supporting a pin 80 which extends through suitable apertures in" the lower ends of the levers 73 toform their pivotal support.

The levers 73 are oscillated about their pivots, toefi'ect the movement of the claws in their film engaging and disengaging movements, by the action of a pair of cams 81 rigidly mounted upon a shaft-82, horizontally disposed parallel to the shaft 52 and suitably journaled in bearings 83and 84 of bearing blocks 57 and 58, respectively.

Preferably the cams 81 are formed integral, being joined together by a suitable neck portlon 85 asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Contact shoes 86, mounted upon the levers 73 are adapted to engage the cam faces of the cams 81; these shoes being held in engagement with the cam faces by means of springs 87 coiled about and secured at one end to the pivot pin 80, the opposite end extending upwardly and engaging the levers 73 as at 88.

The shaft 82 is preferably driven at half the. speed of the shaft 52 through the medium .of a spur gear 89, keyed to the latter, and meshing with a similar gear 90 of twice its size, likewise keyed to the shaft 82. The various gears, shafts and cams hereinbefore referred to are all adapted to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in the several figures of the drawings. The cams 81 each have cam faces 81 81",

81, and 81, the faces 81 and 81. when engaged by the shoes 86 operate to hold the claws 63 out of engagement with the film perforations; while the faces 81" and 81 permit'the movement of these claws into engagement with the film perforations. Thus the cams 81 being rotated at half the speed of the cam 61 and having two cam faces 'per- I mitting the film perforations to be engaged by the claws, the film will be moved downwardly at each revolution of the cam (31. However, the cams 81 may be provided with only one cam face permitting engagement of the film perforations b the claws and driven" at the same speed of rotation as the cam 61,- thereby accomplishing the same results. However. with the former arrangement the cams 81 may be movable along the shaft 82 so the film moveu'ient may be varied by providing different types of cam surfaces.

The shutter 45 is suitably mounted upon a spindle 91, properly journaled in a support upon the partition 13; this spindle and likewise the shutter, being rotated'in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, through the medium of a bevel gear 92, rig- Sit idly mounted upon the shaft 52, meshing with a similar gear 93, keyed upon the lower end of a vertically disposed stub shaft 94.. The stub shaft 94 being suitably journale'd in a bearing 95 secured to the partition 13.

A bevel gear 96 iskeyed to the upper end of the shaft 94, and meshes with a similar gear 97 upon the spindle 91. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The shutter 45 may be of any of the well known types and in the present instance is. preferably designed to permit a suitable uncovering of the lens duralso covered for the purpose of moving it I dowpward, may vary to suit circumstances. but 1n the present case the film or lens must be covered during an interval of time equal to the rotation of the cam 61 through an arc of 90 or more. I

In order that the operation of the mechanism may be fully understood it may be here stated that the main drive gear 16 is ordinarily designed to be rotated at the rate of two revolutions per second; the bevel gears 20 and 21 being of a one to one ratio will rotate the shaft 22 also at l'woirevolw tions per second. The gears 25 and 26 are of a two to one ratio, therefore the shaft 27 will be rotated at the rate of four revolutions per second. The bevel gears 29 and 30 and 35 and 36 a c all ofa one to one ratio therefore the shafts 31 and 37, and consequently the film sprockets 32 and 38. will be rotated at the rate of four revolutions per second. These sprockets. 32 and 38 being standard 16 tooth sprockets, feeding approximately three inches of film per revolution, and rotating at the rate of four revolutions a second, will pass approximately twelve inches of film, or sufficient for sixteen standard exposures per second. The ratio between gears 51 and 16 is eight to one, therefore the shaft will be rotated atthe rate of sixteen revolutions per second, thus rotating the cam 61 at sixteen revolutions per second, and moving the plate 59 thirty two times per second, or sixteen upward and sixteen doivnward movements. Gears 92 and 93 are of a one to one ratio are also the gears 96 and 97, therefore the shutter 45 will be'rotated at the rate of sixteen revolutions per second: the shutter opening being arranged to uncover'the lens sixteen times per second thus making sixteen exposures. The shaft 82 being driven from the shaft 52 through the medium of gears 89 and 90, which are of a two to one ratio, revolves at the rate of eight revolutions per second; the cams 81 being rigidly mounted thereon and having the cam surfaces 81 and 81 permitting the movement of the claws into engagement with the film, the

film will be engaged sixteen times per second, or during each revolution of the 'cam 61.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, the plate 59 is shown in Fig. 4 in its upward or topmost position and the claws out of engagement with the perforations of the film'F, and the cams 61 and 81 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows. In this position the shoes 86 are in engagement with the cam surfaces 81 which hold the levers 73 in position to hold the pins in their outermost position. In moving from the position shown in 4 to that 1 shown in Fig; 5, the cam 61 moves through an arc of 90 while the cams 81 on the half time shaft 82, moves through an arc of During this movement the cam surfaces 61 and 61 have been in engagement with the contiguous faces of the cam bars 62, thereby holding the plate 59 stationary, and also during which time the cams 81 have rotated so the shoes 86 will pass from engagement with the cam faces 81*, to the cam faces 81*, therebypermitting the levers 7 3 to be moved to .the right by the action of springs 87, moving the claws 63 into engagement with the perforations of the films, ontinued rotation of the am 61, from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shownin Fig. 6, brings the cam face 61 into the engagement with the lower cam bar 62, and moves the plate 59 downwardly carrying with itythe claws 63 which are in engagement with the perforations of the film F, thus moving the film downwardly one picture distance. During this time the cams 81 are moved through an .arc of 45 (the cam 61 having moved I through an arc of90) permitting the claws 63 to remain in engagement with the film perforations. Continued movement of the mechanism from the position shown in Fig.

6 to that shown in Fig. 7 will cause the cam withdrawn from engagement with the film I continued movement of the parts from the positions shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 4 will raise the plate 59 (by the cam 61 engaging the cam bars 62, as hereinbefore described) and shoes 86 being in contact with the cam face 81'will hold the claws out of engagement with the film during this upward movement. From the position shown in Fig. 4 the operation. is repeated as is hereinbefore described to complete the EliCCBSSlVB exposures and movement of the m. While I have herein shown and described the preferred specific embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that I reserve the right tomake any changes or modifications in structure which properly come within the scope of the appended claims. 7

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. In an intermittent. film actuating mech-.

anism the combination of a plate movable in a plane longitudinal ofthe film, means-to impart a reciprocating movement to said plate, sleeve bearings carried by said plate, film engaging claws mounted in said bearingsuvith their axes at right angles to the .plane of movement of the plate, pivoted levers arms having sliding connections with saidmlaws, and means to. oscillate said arms to cause saidclaws to move intoand out of engagement with the film at the ends of said movements.

2. 1mm intermittent film actuating mechanism the combination of a plate movable in a plane longitudinal of the film, cam means to impart a reciprocating movement to said plate, sleeve bearings carried by said plate, film engagingclaws mounted in said bearings with theirv axes at right angles to the plane ofmovement of the plate, pivoted lever arms having sliding connections with said claws, and cam means to oscillate said arms to cause said claws to move into and out of engagement with the film at the ends of said movements.

3. In an intermittent film actuating mech anism the combination of a plate movable in a plane longitudinal of the film, cam means to impart a reciprocating movement to said plate, bearings carried by said plate, film engaging, claws mounted in said bearings with their axes at right angles to the plane of movement of the plate, means to move said claws axially to engage and disengage the film at the ends of predetermined movements of said plate, said means C0111- prising lever arms pivoted at one end, bearings on the claws slidingly engaging their other ends and cam means to oscillate said arms.

4. In an intermittent film actuating mechanism the combination of a plate movable in a plane longitudinal of the film, means to reciprocate said plate, a film engaging claw, a bearing carried by said plate to carry the claw and througlrwhich the claw may move transversely of the plane of movement of the plate, and a guide arm for the claw and having sliding connection therewith, said guide arm being fixed as regards movement parallel to the reciprocation of the plate but movable transversely of the plane of movement of the plate, and means to move the guide arm transversely.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of September 1921.

LLOYD BROWN.

Witness:

Vmomm I. BERINGER. 

